UNITED STATES


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER


PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER


THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the month of May 2019

 

 

PEARSON plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 

N/A


 

(Translation of registrant's name into English)


 

80 Strand


London, England WC2R 0RL


44-20-7010-2000

(Address of principal executive office)


 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports

under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:


 

 

 

Form 20-F X                                                Form 40-F


 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information

contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the

Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


 

 

 

Yes                                              No X

 

 

TR-1: Standard form for notification of major holdings

 

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR HOLDINGS (to be sent to the relevant issuer and to the FCA in Microsoft Word format if possible)i
1a. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attachedii:			PEARSON PLC
1b. Please indicate if the issuer is a non-UK issuer (please mark with an "X" if appropriate)
Non-UK issuer
2. Reason for the notification (please mark the appropriate box or boxes with an "X")
An acquisition or disposal of voting rights
An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments						X
An event changing the breakdown of voting rights
Other (please specify)iii
3. Details of person subject to the notification obligationiv
Name			The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
City and country of registered office (if applicable)			Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington DE 19801, USA
4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.)v
Name			Goldman Sachs International
City and country of registered office (if applicable)			Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BB, UK
5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedvi:			24/05/2019
6. Date on which issuer notified (DD/MM/YYYY):			28/05/2019
7. Total positions of person(s) subject to the notification obligation
	% of voting rights attached to shares (total of 8. A)	% of voting rights through financial instruments(total of 8.B 1 + 8.B 2)		Total of both in % (8.A + 8.B)	Total number of voting rights of issuervii
Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reached	0.56%	6.97%		7.53%	781,417,120
Position of previous notification (if applicable)	0.56%	7.05%		7.61%

 

 

 

 

8. Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedviii
A: Voting rights attached to shares
Class/type ofshares ISIN code (if possible)		Number of voting rightsix					% of voting rights
		Direct (Art 9 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.1)		Indirect (Art 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.2.1)			Direct (Art 9 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.1)		Indirect (Art 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.2.1)
GB0006776081				4,058,805					0.52%
US7050151056				353,091					0.05%
SUBTOTAL 8. A		4,411,896					0.56%
B 1: Financial Instruments according to Art. 13(1)(a) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (a))
Type of financial instrument		Expirationdatex	Exercise/Conversion Periodxi			Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/converted.			% of voting rights
Securities Lending		Open				9,353,605			1.20%
			SUBTOTAL 8. B 1			9,353,605			1.20%
B 2: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to Art. 13(1)(b) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (b))
Type of financial instrument	Expirationdatex		Exercise/Conversion Period xi		Physical or cash settlementxii			Number of voting rights	% of voting rights
Refer to Annexure
					SUBTOTAL 8.B.2			45,104,921	5.77%

 

9. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation (please mark the applicable box with an "X")
Person subject to the notification obligation is not controlled by any natural person or legal entity and does not control any other undertaking(s) holding directly or indirectly an interest in the (underlying) issuerxiii
Full chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or thefinancial instruments are effectively held starting with the ultimate controlling natural person or legal entityxiv(please add additional rows as necessary)				X
Namexv	% of voting rights if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold	% of voting rights through financial instruments if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold	Total of both if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Goldman Sachs (UK) L.L.C.
Goldman Sachs Group UK Limited
Goldman Sachs International		5.81%	5.81%
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
GSAM Holdings LLC
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International Holdings L.L.C.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management Co., Ltd.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
GSAM Holdings LLC
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
10. In case of proxy voting, please identify:
Name of the proxy holder		N/A
The number and % of voting rights held		N/A
The date until which the voting rights will be held		N/A
11. Additional informationxvi
Please note, total amount of voting rights have been rounded to 2 decimal places therefore there is a possibility of a rounding error.   General email contact: [email protected]

 

Place of completion	London
Date of completion	28/05/2019

 

Natalie White

Deputy Company Secretary

Pearson plc

 

29 May 2019

 

 

 

 

Annexure
B 2: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to Art. 13(1)(b) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (b))
Type of financial instrument	Expiration datex	Exercise / Conversion periodxi	Physical or cash settlementxii	Number of voting rights	% of voting rights
CFD	15/09/2028		Cash	3,105,253	0.40%
CFD	10/12/2025		Cash	2,800,138	0.36%
CFD	20/04/2029		Cash	1,977,494	0.25%
CFD	20/10/2027		Cash	1,879,542	0.24%
CFD	23/09/2020		Cash	1,834,093	0.23%
CFD	23/02/2024		Cash	1,800,000	0.23%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	1,577,609	0.20%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	1,300,000	0.17%
CFD	07/02/2024		Cash	1,240,000	0.16%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	1,100,000	0.14%
CFD	14/02/2024		Cash	970,000	0.12%
CFD	12/02/2024		Cash	865,494	0.11%
CFD	26/01/2024		Cash	865,000	0.11%
CFD	26/02/2024		Cash	860,000	0.11%
Swap	28/07/2021		Cash	851,294	0.11%
CFD	22/02/2024		Cash	800,000	0.10%
CFD	28/03/2029		Cash	785,198	0.10%
Swap	28/07/2021		Cash	757,148	0.10%
CFD	20/04/2029		Cash	685,506	0.09%
CFD	29/01/2024		Cash	663,999	0.08%
CFD	28/03/2029		Cash	576,421	0.07%
CFD	12/07/2023		Cash	553,469	0.07%
CFD	06/12/2028		Cash	440,459	0.06%
CFD	14/02/2024		Cash	419,554	0.05%
CFD	09/02/2024		Cash	406,520	0.05%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	393,954	0.05%
CFD	20/10/2027		Cash	378,633	0.05%
CFD	03/05/2029		Cash	371,291	0.05%
CFD	20/10/2027		Cash	369,444	0.05%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	368,317	0.05%
CFD	15/07/2021		Cash	328,703	0.04%
CFD	16/06/2028		Cash	328,703	0.04%
Swap	30/11/2023		Cash	300,000	0.04%
Swap	05/05/2022		Cash	295,638	0.04%
CFD	19/02/2024		Cash	265,000	0.03%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	261,151	0.03%
CFD	24/03/2028		Cash	259,000	0.03%
Swap	03/02/2023		Cash	250,801	0.03%
Swap	29/11/2023		Cash	250,000	0.03%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	243,989	0.03%
CFD	29/02/2024		Cash	235,463	0.03%
CFD	28/03/2029		Cash	228,899	0.03%
Swap	29/11/2023		Cash	225,000	0.03%
Swap	18/01/2024		Cash	222,460	0.03%
CFD	27/09/2028		Cash	217,594	0.03%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	215,238	0.03%
CFD	23/08/2028		Cash	204,000	0.03%
Swap	28/07/2021		Cash	203,317	0.03%
CFD	22/02/2021		Cash	200,809	0.03%
Swap	02/02/2023		Cash	198,606	0.03%
CFD	19/05/2027		Cash	194,011	0.02%
Swap	18/01/2024		Cash	183,004	0.02%
CFD	03/05/2024		Cash	182,396	0.02%
Swap	28/07/2021		Cash	170,231	0.02%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	170,178	0.02%
CFD	18/01/2029		Cash	170,000	0.02%
Swap	01/02/2024		Cash	154,031	0.02%
CFD	30/04/2024		Cash	145,738	0.02%
CFD	16/02/2024		Cash	140,912	0.02%
CFD	09/09/2021		Cash	138,513	0.02%
CFD	31/01/2024		Cash	136,001	0.02%
CFD	28/03/2029		Cash	134,915	0.02%
CFD	22/11/2028		Cash	134,667	0.02%
CFD	02/05/2029		Cash	133,665	0.02%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	132,778	0.02%
CFD	17/01/2029		Cash	132,328	0.02%
Swap	28/07/2021		Cash	131,070	0.02%
CFD	11/08/2023		Cash	129,580	0.02%
CFD	12/04/2029		Cash	128,954	0.02%
CFD	03/05/2029		Cash	128,709	0.02%
CFD	28/03/2029		Cash	124,985	0.02%
Swap	17/09/2020		Cash	119,364	0.02%
CFD	17/07/2020		Cash	119,098	0.02%
Swap	03/02/2023		Cash	117,797	0.02%
CFD	25/02/2027		Cash	115,000	0.01%
Swap	22/04/2020		Cash	113,300	0.01%
CFD	19/01/2029		Cash	110,000	0.01%
Swap	18/01/2024		Cash	106,899	0.01%
Swap	18/01/2024		Cash	101,869	0.01%
Swap	13/05/2020		Cash	100,100	0.01%
CFD	18/01/2029		Cash	100,000	0.01%
Swap	16/04/2024		Cash	100,000	0.01%
CFD	12/06/2028		Cash	98,591	0.01%
Call Option	31/07/2019		Cash	94,328	0.01%
Swap	02/02/2023		Cash	93,281	0.01%
Swap	29/11/2023		Cash	91,988	0.01%
CFD	09/03/2029		Cash	90,943	0.01%
Swap	14/06/2023		Cash	86,565	0.01%
CFD	08/02/2024		Cash	86,367	0.01%
Swap	20/05/2020		Cash	85,890	0.01%
Swap	12/07/2023		Cash	84,590	0.01%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	82,784	0.01%
CFD	18/01/2029		Cash	80,000	0.01%
CFD	26/02/2024		Cash	75,108	0.01%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	75,051	0.01%
CFD	18/01/2029		Cash	75,000	0.01%
Swap	27/04/2022		Cash	73,357	0.01%
Swap	07/07/2023		Cash	73,094	0.01%
CFD	17/07/2028		Cash	71,500	0.01%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	69,667	0.01%
Swap	03/02/2023		Cash	68,758	0.01%
Swap	29/11/2023		Cash	65,026	0.01%
CFD	28/02/2024		Cash	63,641	0.01%
Swap	18/01/2024		Cash	62,356	0.01%
CFD	25/04/2029		Cash	61,200	0.01%
CFD	16/02/2024		Cash	60,750	0.01%
CFD	28/03/2029		Cash	60,361	0.01%
CFD	19/01/2029		Cash	60,000	0.01%
Swap	18/01/2024		Cash	59,338	0.01%
CFD	05/11/2027		Cash	59,199	0.01%
Swap	15/06/2023		Cash	57,709	0.01%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	57,179	0.01%
Swap	05/09/2019		Cash	55,700	0.01%
CFD	02/05/2029		Cash	55,363	0.01%
Swap	03/06/2020		Cash	55,000	0.01%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	54,487	0.01%
Swap	02/02/2023		Cash	54,448	0.01%
Swap	05/09/2019		Cash	53,400	0.01%
CFD	25/01/2029		Cash	53,300	0.01%
CFD	22/10/2020		Cash	53,205	0.01%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	52,715	0.01%
CFD	19/01/2029		Cash	50,000	0.01%
Swap	16/04/2024		Cash	50,000	0.01%
CFD	01/03/2028		Cash	48,879	0.01%
CFD	02/05/2029		Cash	46,335	0.01%
CFD	16/04/2024		Cash	45,872	0.01%
Swap	01/02/2023		Cash	43,214	0.01%
CFD	25/01/2029		Cash	42,864	0.01%
CFD	07/05/2024		Cash	40,620	0.01%
Swap	14/06/2023		Cash	40,052	0.01%
Swap	08/04/2020		Cash	38,800	0.005%
CFD	09/09/2021		Cash	38,191	0.005%
Swap	12/07/2023		Cash	37,897	0.005%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	37,446	0.005%
CFD	03/05/2029		Cash	37,129	0.005%
CFD	17/11/2028		Cash	36,622	0.005%
CFD	17/07/2023		Cash	34,200	0.004%
CFD	21/07/2028		Cash	34,000	0.004%
CFD	24/10/2019		Cash	33,191	0.004%
Swap	07/07/2023		Cash	32,746	0.004%
CFD	22/02/2024		Cash	32,650	0.004%
Swap	27/04/2022		Cash	31,871	0.004%
CFD	30/04/2024		Cash	30,538	0.004%
Swap	12/06/2023		Cash	30,225	0.004%
CFD	24/10/2019		Cash	29,469	0.004%
Swap	15/06/2023		Cash	26,702	0.003%
Swap	03/06/2022		Cash	26,676	0.003%
CFD	28/02/2024		Cash	25,929	0.003%
CFD	06/07/2023		Cash	25,488	0.003%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	24,949	0.003%
CFD	26/02/2024		Cash	24,892	0.003%
CFD	18/09/2019		Cash	24,830	0.003%
CFD	24/10/2019		Cash	24,541	0.003%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	24,379	0.003%
CFD	02/05/2029		Cash	24,341	0.003%
CFD	04/12/2023		Cash	24,175	0.003%
CFD	10/05/2029		Cash	23,787	0.003%
Swap	14/06/2023		Cash	23,383	0.003%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	23,191	0.003%
Swap	12/07/2023		Cash	22,173	0.003%
CFD	29/05/2029		Cash	21,980	0.003%
Swap	01/02/2023		Cash	20,297	0.003%
CFD	17/01/2029		Cash	20,250	0.003%
CFD	16/02/2024		Cash	20,250	0.003%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	19,821	0.003%
CFD	24/10/2019		Cash	19,385	0.002%
Swap	07/07/2023		Cash	19,160	0.002%
CFD	14/07/2023		Cash	18,500	0.002%
Call Option	05/08/2019		Cash	18,106	0.002%
CFD	25/05/2022		Cash	18,000	0.002%
Swap	12/05/2022		Cash	17,809	0.002%
CFD	23/11/2028		Cash	17,711	0.002%
Swap	21/06/2022		Cash	17,441	0.002%
CFD	21/02/2024		Cash	17,285	0.002%
Swap	17/09/2020		Cash	16,474	0.002%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	16,400	0.002%
Swap	29/04/2020		Cash	16,200	0.002%
Swap	28/05/2020		Cash	15,800	0.002%
Swap	04/02/2022		Cash	15,710	0.002%
Swap	15/06/2023		Cash	15,589	0.002%
CFD	11/05/2029		Cash	15,537	0.002%
CFD	11/11/2020		Cash	15,090	0.002%
CFD	15/02/2024		Cash	14,534	0.002%
Swap	31/12/2019		Cash	14,300	0.002%
CFD	16/04/2024		Cash	14,128	0.002%
Swap	12/06/2023		Cash	13,985	0.002%
Swap	03/06/2022		Cash	13,970	0.002%
Swap	04/02/2022		Cash	13,826	0.002%
Swap	27/04/2022		Cash	13,817	0.002%
CFD	28/03/2024		Cash	13,800	0.002%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	13,783	0.002%
CFD	10/05/2029		Cash	13,769	0.002%
Swap	04/02/2022		Cash	13,507	0.002%
CFD	03/05/2029		Cash	12,871	0.002%
Swap	03/11/2021		Cash	12,609	0.002%
Swap	01/02/2023		Cash	11,847	0.002%
Swap	18/03/2020		Cash	11,600	0.001%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	11,592	0.001%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	10,958	0.001%
Swap	31/12/2019		Cash	10,900	0.001%
CFD	28/10/2020		Cash	10,812	0.001%
Swap	05/05/2022		Cash	10,762	0.001%
Swap	06/03/2020		Cash	10,500	0.001%
Call Option	02/07/2019		Cash	10,482	0.001%
CFD	24/02/2021		Cash	9,898	0.001%
CFD	24/05/2029		Cash	9,632	0.001%
CFD	30/04/2024		Cash	9,462	0.001%
CFD	21/05/2029		Cash	8,767	0.001%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	8,536	0.001%
CFD	29/05/2029		Cash	8,200	0.001%
Swap	12/06/2023		Cash	8,165	0.001%
CFD	16/05/2029		Cash	7,800	0.001%
Swap	27/04/2022		Cash	6,975	0.001%
CFD	28/02/2029		Cash	6,100	0.001%
Swap	27/05/2022		Cash	6,097	0.001%
Swap	03/06/2022		Cash	5,980	0.001%
Swap	16/04/2020		Cash	5,700	0.001%
CFD	14/01/2021		Cash	5,658	0.001%
Swap	05/05/2022		Cash	5,267	0.001%
CFD	15/12/2027		Cash	5,000	0.001%
CFD	08/03/2028		Cash	5,000	0.001%
CFD	12/05/2028		Cash	5,000	0.001%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	4,774	0.001%
CFD	23/03/2029		Cash	4,400	0.001%
CFD	04/02/2022		Cash	4,300	0.001%
Swap	05/05/2022		Cash	3,700	0.0005%
Swap	03/11/2021		Cash	3,634	0.0005%
CFD	01/02/2029		Cash	3,500	0.0004%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	3,388	0.0004%
Swap	05/05/2022		Cash	2,928	0.0004%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	2,857	0.0004%
CFD	25/05/2029		Cash	2,679	0.0003%
Swap	03/11/2021		Cash	2,556	0.0003%
Swap	04/02/2022		Cash	2,470	0.0003%
CFD	28/10/2020		Cash	2,350	0.0003%
CFD	28/10/2020		Cash	2,350	0.0003%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	2,317	0.0003%
CFD	25/04/2029		Cash	2,265	0.0003%
Swap	03/11/2021		Cash	2,214	0.0003%
CFD	28/02/2024		Cash	2,071	0.0003%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	1,768	0.0002%
CFD	13/05/2024		Cash	1,703	0.0002%
CFD	03/05/2029		Cash	1,528	0.0002%
CFD	18/04/2029		Cash	1,500	0.0002%
Call Option	04/06/2019		Cash	1,190	0.0002%
CFD	16/05/2029		Cash	1,121	0.0001%
Call Option	07/06/2019		Cash	1,025	0.0001%
CFD	04/05/2029		Cash	853	0.0001%
CFD	20/04/2029		Cash	775	0.0001%
CFD	25/04/2029		Cash	751	0.0001%
CFD	17/05/2029		Cash	656	0.0001%
Call Option	28/05/2019		Cash	644	0.0001%
CFD	24/03/2022		Cash	641	0.0001%
Call Option	29/05/2019		Cash	556	0.0001%
CFD	20/04/2029		Cash	508	0.0001%
CFD	16/05/2029		Cash	466	0.0001%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	461	0.0001%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	419	0.0001%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	329	0.00004%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	323	0.00004%
Swap	22/05/2020		Cash	323	0.00004%
CFD	21/05/2029		Cash	200	0.00003%
CFD	23/05/2029		Cash	140	0.00002%
Call Option	20/06/2019		Cash	92	0.00001%
Call Option	20/06/2019		Cash	31	0.000004%
Total Number of voting rights and percentage of voting rights				45,104,921	5.77%
Additional information: Please note, total amount of voting rights have been rounded to 2 decimal places therefore there is a possibility of a rounding error.

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


 

	PEARSON plc
Date: 29 May 2019
	By: /s/ NATALIE WHITE
	------------------------------------
	Natalie White
	Deputy Company Secretary